Tournament rules

1. Tournament rules

The tournament jury is comprised of:

Finn Larsen, Erik Mark Nielsen and Michael Hæstrup Jensen.

The jury has control and is responsible, that the tournament is played in a sportsmanlike manner. They deal with the protests, the interpretation of the rules and all matters of doubt.

The decisions of the jury cannot be appealed.

2. Age limits 2024

Boys:

• B18-19 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2005 or later
• B17 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2007 or later
• B16 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2008 or later
• B16 Boys (7:7) born 1.1.2008 or later
• B15 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2009 or later
• B14 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2010 or later
• B14 Boys (7:7) born 1.1.2010 or later
• B13 Boys (11:11) born 1.1.2011 or later
• B12 Boys (7:7) born 1.1.2012 or later
• B11 Boys (7:7) born 1.1.2013 or later

Girls:

• G18-19 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2005 or later
• G17 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2007 or later
• G16 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2008 or later
• G16 Girls (7:7) born 1.1.2008 or later
• G15 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2009 or later
• G14 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2010 or later
• G14 Girls (7:7) born 1.1.2010 or later
• G13 Girls (11:11) born 1.1.2011 or later
• G12 Girls (7:7) born 1.1.2012 or later

3. Age requirements etc

There is an automatic dispensation to include 2 players on the participant list, who are 1 year over the age limit. Only 1 player for 7:7 teams.

Any player can participate on two teams from the same club, as long as the age limit is kept. The two teams must not be in the same class. 

The classes with both 11:11 and 7:7 are considered the same class.

Any girls can participate in classes for boys as long as they are the correct age.

The Dana Cup tournament rules do not prevent the use of guest players or prevent multiple clubs from putting together one or more teams. 

4. Name of participants - Identification

There must be filled in or handed over a participant list before the start of the tournament.

After check-in you cannot add extra players to your participant list.

A player will be eligible to play when listed on the team list and the Dana Cup participant fee has been paid.

Player identification (with photo) must be taken to the check-in and to each game and shown to a jury member or a representative for the jury at any time it may be requested. 
At the check-in the ID is cross checked with the participant list and age control will be done.

There will be random checks of player identification and player eligibility during the tournament.

It can result in a lost game if a team uses an ineligible player or if there is not sufficient identification for a player.

The jury decides what a satisfactory identification is.

5. Length of play

6. Division into groups

The teams are divided into groups of four or five teams with all teams playing against each other.

Teams are then placed according to points won.

• 3 points for a win
• 1 point for a tie
• No points for a defeat

If two or more teams achieve the same point score, their placing order is decided as follows:

The draw is made by the tournament administration. If the teams involved are not present, they will be notified of the draw results.

The two best teams of each group will advance to the A-Final round, which is played to cup rules, i.e. the losing teams drop out.

The other teams advance to the B-Final round which is also played to cup rules.

7. Tied matches  -  the final rounds

Tied matches in the opening final rounds are decided by penalty shoot-outs.

Tied semi-finals and finals are decided by extra time of 2 x 5 minutes. If the game is still a tie at the end of extra time it will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

The penalty shoot-out is held according to FIFA's rules.
As there is free substitutions, at the end of the game, it is possible for substituted players to participate in the penalty shoot-out. The team sizes are made equal. 

8. Rules

The Dana Cup is played according to the rules set down by FIFA and DBU with the following amendments:

A team can use a maximum of 18 players in any given game, this means in any one game you can use a maximum of 7 substitutes.

7:7 teams are allowed to use as many players as they want.  

Substitution.

All players can be substituted in and out - (free substitution).

The substitution of a player can take place without notifying the referee and without a stop in the play.

The substitution must take place from the middle of the pitch.

A player, being substituted, must leave the pitch before the new player enters the pitch.

When substituting a goalkeeper, the referee must be notified of the substitution and it must take place when there is a stop in the play. 

If the referee believes the substitution of a player is made only to delay time, he can refuse the request to make the substitution.
Incorrect substitutions will give a yellow card. 

Ball size.

Class B14, B13, B12, B11, G14, G13 and G12 play with a ball size 4.

All other classes play with a ball size 5.

Soccer jerseys.

Jerseys must be numbered and the numbers must be different.

Players must use the same jersey number in all games.

If both teams have the same colours the team mentioned last in the tournament plan will change jerseys.

Shin guards (leg pads).

Shin guards are obligatory.

Failure to wear pads will entail the player being sent off from the field until pads are worn.

In addition, the following special rules apply to the 7:7 teams:

Distances etc.

Opposition players must be at least 7 m from the ball with the start kick off, free kicks, penalties, goal kicks and corners. 

Offside.

The offside rule is not used.

Goalkeeper.

The goalkeeper is not allowed to pick up the ball after a back pass from his team mates.

Free kicks.

All free kicks are direct, however a free kick to the opposing team in the penalty area, would after the rules result in an indirect free kick, be a direct free kick outside the penalty area closest to the incident.

Corner kicks.

The ball is placed in the corner circle with corner kicks. 

9. Time for matches - playing time

Each team must have a minimum of 7 players ready at the field and at the time mentioned in the official program.

In 7:7, at least 5 players should be ready to play.

If a team is not ready at the time mentioned in the official program the game will still be played if there is no more than a 10 minute delay.

In the event of a team not being ready in time and in the event of a protest the match may be declared forfeited by the infringing team, unless special circumstances apply.

Special circumstances can include sudden illness, traffic accidents or similar unforeseeable circumstances.

In such cases the tournament jury may determine that the result of a delayed match shall apply or that an unplayed match shall be played.

10. Players sent off

Players sent off are automatically suspended for the teams next game. The same rule applies for the trainer of the team if he is sent off.

The tournament jury can, in special cases, decide on stricter penalties e.g. if they use a disqualified player.

Only when a player is suspended for more than one game will notice of the suspension be given in writing.

11. Absence

If a team does not turn up for a game, loses on protest, or is omitted from the tournament, the score is set at 0-3.

If the team is omitted in the opening rounds, all the teams results are changed to 0-3.

12. Protests

Protests concerning matches must be submitted in writing by the respective managers to the tournament jury, no later than one hour after the end of the match.

Any decisions made by a referee during a game are final and cannot be appealed.

The size of the soccer balls, shins pads, shirt numbers, participation armbands are not grounds for a protest.

After the start of a game in the final rounds, the result of a game in the previous rounds cannot be changed, unless there has been submitted a protest in that particular match and there has not been a decision made.

A protest fee of DKK 500 must be paid with the submission of a protest. The fee is refunded if the protest is upheld. 

The decisions of the jury can not be appealed.

13. Publication and modification of the tournament schedule

The tournament schedule will be published in the week 27, starting from the 1st of July through to the 7th of July here on our website www.danacup.dk

The tournament administration reserves the right to make changes after this date to the groups, playing fields, playing times etc. 

Any alterations to the schedule after the first publication in week 27, will be published again on Saturday the 20th of July, 2024. Also here on our website www.danacup.dk

It is each teams own responsibility to keep updated with the final schedule. 

If there are any alterations after the final publication of the schedule, the teams involved will be contacted directly. 

A team always has the possibility to get a printed version of the final tournament schedule. This can happen at the Dana Cup check-in or afterwards at the Dana Cup Information Office.

14. Referees - Linespersons

Dana Cup will, in cooperation with DBU Jutland, select the referees for all matches and the linespersons for the following matches:

11:11 A-Final rounds:

11:11 B-Final rounds:

Linespersons:

In matches where no neutral linespersons are used the two teams are obliged to present their own linespersons.

15. Match results

Straight after each match, a leader or coach from each team must go to the referee to confirm the result of the match (sign the results card).